Mets to promote Eric Chavez to bench coach, Jeremy Barnes to hitting coach: reports

Mar 13, 2022; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets hitting coach Eric Chavez looks on as players take batting practice during spring training. / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets are promoting Eric Chavez to bench coach and Jeremy Barnes to hitting coach, among other changes to the coaching staff, according to multiple reports.

Chavez, 44, joined manager Buck Showalter’s staff as the hitting coach on Jan. 6 after the Yankees had announced Chavez as an assistant hitting coach on Dec. 21, 2021.

In Chavez’ lone season as the hitting coach, the Mets’ team batting average increased from .239 in 2021 to .259 in 2022. The Mets also recorded 735 RBI last season with Chavez’ guidance, 131 more than the team had during its 77-win season in 2021.

Chavez previously worked as a special assistant to current Mets GM Billy Eppler while both were with the Yankees in 2015. He then joined Eppler with the Los Angeles Angels as a special assistant when Eppler was hired as GM.

Chavez played for the Oakland Athletics, Yankees, and Arizona Diamondbacks during a big league playing career from 1998 to 2014.

Barnes served as the Mets’ assistant hitting coach during the 2022 season, and “was said to have been coveted by a couple different teams,” according to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman.

Additionally, Glenn Sherlock, who served as Showalter’s bench coach last season, will move to coaching the team’s catchers and working with pitch calling to slow down opponents’ base running.